Ajax and AEK Athens conclude their Europa League group-stage campaigns when they do battle at the Johan Cruijff Arena in their final Group B fixture on Thursday night.
Both teams are unable to progress to the knockout rounds, but the prospect of finishing third and dropping down into the Europa Conference League is still up for grabs.
Match preview
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Following an abysmal start to the 2023-24 campaign, Ajax appear to have turned a corner under new head coach John van 't Schip, winning six and drawing one of their last nine matches across all competitions.
However, the two defeats that they have suffered during this run have both come in the Europa League group stage to Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille, including a 4-3 away defeat to the latter on matchday five a fortnight ago in which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a 93rd-minute winner from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick.
Ajax currently sit rock bottom of Group B with just two points from their first five matches, and they must beat AEK Athens on Thursday to leapfrog the Greek outfit into third place and keep their European journey alive, as they endeavour to enter the Europa Conference League playoff round draw.
Since losing to Marseille, Ajax have won each of their last three Eredivisie matches against NEC, RKC Waalwijk and Sparta Rotterdam, beating the latter 2-1 on home soil last weekend to climb up to fifth in the table and move to within nine points of the top four; they still sit a mammoth 21 points adrift of runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven, though.
Ajax have never previously gone an entire European group-stage campaign without winning at least once, and there is reason for the Dutch giants to be optimistic of success on Thursday as they have won four of their last five European meetings with AEK Athens, scoring 10 goals in the process.
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After picking up four points from their opening two Europa Leage group-stage games to climb to the top of Group B, AEK Athens have since lost each of their last three matches and cannot advance to the knockout rounds.
Back-to-back defeats to Marseille were followed by a slender 1-0 home loss to Brighton on matchday five two weeks ago, but a draw against Ajax on Thursday would be enough to see the Yellow-Blacks finish third and enter the Europa Conference League playoff round.
Matias Almeyda's side, who were considered as the outsiders in Group B before the season began, responded to their defeat against Brighton by winning via the same scoreline at home to Aris in the Greek Super League just over a week ago, a result which keeps them in touching distance of leaders Panathinaikos, who only sit one point above the reigning champions in second.
AEK Athens claimed their only victory in this season's Europa League group stage away from home on matchday one three months ago, beating Brighton 3-2, but they have had less success when paying a visit to the Netherlands, as they have lost all six of their previous away games on Dutch soil by an aggregate score of 16-0, which does not bode well for Almeyda's men ahead of Thursday's meeting with Ajax.
Team News
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Ajax trio Branco van den Boomen, Remko Pasveer (both knee) and Mika Godts (hip) are all sidelined with injuries, while Steven Berghuis is suspended after he was sent off for a late challenge in the defeat to Marseille last time out.
Jay Gorter is doubtful with an unspecified issue, so Diant Ramaj is set to continue in goal and could be protected by a back four of Devyne Rensch, Josip Sutalo, Jorrel Hato and Borna Sosa.
The absence of Berghuis could see Carlos Forbs handed a start on the right flank, while Chuba Akpom – who has scored five of his six goals this season as a substitute – may begin on the bench once again with Brian Brobbey set to lead the line.
As for AEK Athens, Paolo Fernandes (Achilles) and Cican Stankovic (concussion) are both ruled out along with Mijat Gacinovic, who is suspended following his dismissal against Brighton a fortnight ago.
Lazaros Rota will continue to battle with Djibril Sidibe for a start at right-back, while Orbelin Pineda, Damian Szymanski and Petros Mantalos could all retain their places in midfield.
Steven Zuber, who has five goals to his name this term, could be supported in attack by Nordin Amrabat and Niclas Eliasson, the latter of whom is in contention to replace Gacinovic.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Tahirovic, Taylor, Hlynsson; Forbs, Brobbey, Bergwijn
AEK Athens possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Sidibe, Vida, Mitoglou, Hajsafi; Szymanski, Mantalos, Pineda; Amrabat, Zuber, Eliasson
We say: Ajax 2-1 AEK Athens
A 1-1 draw was played out between these two teams in the reverse fixture in Greece two months ago, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Thursday.
However, Ajax have put together a strong run of form in recent weeks and we believe that the rejuvenated hosts will do enough to claim a narrow victory over AEK Athens to secure third place in Group B.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
